Education in Britain and Yugoslavia
by Ivana Stefanovich and Ivana Jovanovich, 17

The aim of British and our education is the same, and it is to develop to the full the talents of both children and adults, for their own benefit and that of society as a whole. In Britain children must by law receive education between the ages of 4 or 5 and 16, but in our country that is between the ages of 6 or 7 and 15. The same thing as in our country is that they also have nursery schools which are voluntary.

There are two kinds of schools in Britain: state schools (which are publicly financed ) and private schools, but in our country we have state schools only.

Some of the most important things about state schools in Britain are almost the same as in our country: boys and girls are taught together (mixed schools), classes are held between Mondays and Fridays, the school year begins in early September and continues into the following July. The only difference is in their way of dividing the school year- their school year is divided into three terms of around 13 weeks each, and ours consists of 4 terms. Compulsory education in Britain begins at 5 and children in Yugoslavia start going to school two years later (at the age of 7). Compulsory education lasts 11 years in Britain and 8 years in our country.

The National Curriculum in Britain defines four key stages:
key stage 1 - up to age 7 (infants)
key stage 2 - 7 to 11 (juniors)
key stage 3 - 11 to 14 (pre-GCSE)
key stage 4 - 14 to 16 (preparation for GCSE and equivalent
vocational pathways)

In our country it is different:
Primary school - 7 to 15
Secondary school - 15 to 18 or 19 (3rd and 4th Qualifications
Levels)
The most important subjects are almost the same: mathematics, English, science, history, geography, music, art and physical education (PE).

When British boys and girls reach the age of 16 they sit for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). There are actually three standards or levels of exams : ordinary (O-level), advanced (A-level) and scholarship. In order to gain entrance to a university, a boy or a girl must pass exams in five subjects of which English and another language must be two and which must include either mathematics or science. He or she must pass at least two of these five subjects at the advanced level (A-level). It's important to say that the General Certificate of Education Advanced level is taken after further two years of study.

In Yugoslavia we have the Certificate of Primary school and then we sit for the entrance exam for the Secondary school, and after we finish Secondary school, we sit for the Certificate of Secondary school.

Education of children with special needs is the same in Britain and in Yugoslavia and wherever it is possible pupils with special needs are educated in ordinary schools, but there are some schools only for children with special needs.

Higher education in Britain covers all post-school courses above the General Certificate of Secondary Education A-level standard (GCSE A-level). These courses are available at:
- universities
- colleges
- institutions of higher education and
- institutions of further education.

In our country everybody who passes the entrance exam at university can continue with education at one of the many faculties. There are also some institutions of higher education and at these schools education lasts 2 or 3 years.

EDUCATION SERVICE IN YUGOSLAVIA:
- Voluntary NURSERY SCHOOL
- 7 to 15 - PRIMARY SCHOOL(8 years compulsory education)
- 16 to 19 - SECONDARY SCHOOL(3rd and 4th Qualifications
Levels)

EDUCATION SERVICE IN BRITAIN:
- Voluntary NURSERY SCHOOL
- 5 to 16 - 11 years compulsory education
- 5 to 11 - PRIMARY SCHOOL
- 12 to 16 - SECONDARY SCHOOL(at least 5 years)
- at the age of 16 - 'O' level exams
- at the age of 17 or 18 - 'A' level exams